Everything to know about The Sims 5, aka Project Rene

polygon.com:

Though The Sims 4 is still thriving10 years after it was originally released, developer Maxis and publisher Electronic Arts are in active development on Project Rene, the codename for what will become The Sims 5. Maxis is “very early on in development” of The Sims 5 as of 2023, according to a blog post on the Electronic Arts website.

But the game is far enough along that Maxis was able to host small playtests focusing on interior design and furniture as early as 2022 — the same year the company announced it was developing the game. Maxis and Electronic Arts intend to keep that up, hosting small playtests throughout the course of development.

“This is how the best games are made, working hand-in-hand with players,” game director Gane Rodiek wrote in 2023. “It’s such a valuable tool that will help us make Project Rene truly special. But!—it is a long, involved process.”

So far, the developer has published four separate videos that go over the latest in Project Rene. The broadcasts are an unexpected and transparent way for Maxis to keep players invested in the next generation of The Sims. There’s still a lot to learn about The Sims 5, including the ever-important release date, but we do know a lot.

Let’s get caught up.

Project Rene is the codename for the next Sims game. We don’t technically even have confirmation that this game will be called The Sims 5 — just that it’s the next generation of The Sims. Whatever the name, it won’t stay Project Rene; codenames are standard in the industry. But the team chose this codename specifically because it’s a reflection of words like “renewal, renaissance, rebirth,” said Lyndsay Pearson, who leads The Sims franchise, in a Behind the Sims broadcast. “It represents our renewed commitment to The Sims,” she added.

Maxis and Electronic Arts haven’t given a release window for The Sims 5 — they’ve only said that it’s very early in development. You shouldn’t expect The Sims 5 to be released for a couple years still, but there may be